GB2535974A

GB2535974A - A fixing alignment device

Info

Publication number: GB2535974A
Application number: GB1501380.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mcloughlin John
Original assignee: UAP Ltd
Current assignee: UAP Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-28
Filing date: 2015-01-28
Publication date: 2016-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2035-01-28
Also published as: GB201501380D0; GB2535974B

Abstract

A device (1) is provided either as part of or for attachment to a component (2) for aligning a fixing for use in the connection of the component to a feature defined by a second component that is spaced from it at least initially or in use. The device (1) may be integrally formed with the component (2) or be separately manufactured for subsequent attachment to a component. The device (1) comprises a plurality of resilient fingers (9) that project from the periphery of a hole (5). Tips (10) of the fingers (9) lie on a circle having a diameter less than that of the hole (5).

Description

A FIXING ALIGNMENT DEVICE

The present invention relates to a device for aligning fixings such as screws, bolts and the like that are used to connect components together that are, at least initially, spaced apart.

When securing a first component to a second component that is spaced from the first component, it is usual for a fixing to pass through a hole in the first component and into a boss or hole provided on or in the second component. The fixing can then be tightened or have a nut or cap attached to its protruding end so that both components are firmly fixed together. However, when the fixing is passed through the first hole, unless there is a very close fit between the edges of the hole and the fixing, which can make the fixing difficult to insert, the fixing will wobble within the hole.

This makes it difficult to locate the free end of the fixing in the boss or hole provided in the second component.

The object of the present invention is to overcome or substantially mitigate the aforementioned problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device forming part of a component for aligning a fixing for use in the connection of the component to a feature defined by a second component that is spaced from it in use, the component comprising a face defining a hole through which a projecting portion of the fixing can pass; and the device comprising a plurality of resilient fingers that projects from the component around the periphery of the hole, the tips of the fingers lying on a circle having a diameter less than that of the hole around a longitudinal axis that is coincident with the centre of the hole and at right angles to the face of the component adjacent the hole.

Preferably, the fingers project from the component on a side opposite to the face.

It will be appreciated that the device may be integrally formed with the component, which will usually be the case if the component is moulded from a resilient plastics or an elastomeric material, or the device may be separately manufactured for attachment to a component, for example by an adhesive or an adhesive means. The latter is suitable in cases where the component is primarily made of metal or a non-resilient material.

Hence, according to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for aligning a fixing for use in the connection of a first component to a feature defined by a second component that is spaced from it in use, the device comprising a plate defining a first hole for securement to a face of the first component adjacent a second hole through which a projecting portion of the fixing can pass, a plurality of resilient fingers that projects from the plate around the periphery of the first hole, the tips of the fingers lying on a circle having a diameter less than that of the second hole around a longitudinal axis that is coincident with the centre of the first hole and at right angles to a face of the plate.

Preferably also, in either or both of the first and second aspects of the 20 invention the fingers are identical in shape and size to one another.

Other preferred but non-essential features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of part of a component of which a device in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention 30 forms a part; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from one side of a greater part of the component when it is in the process of being attached by a fixing to a second component that is spaced from it; Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 but from another viewpoint; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention; Fig. 5 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in combination with a screw fixing.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a device 1 that in this case forms part of a component 2, which is intended to be secured to a second component 3 that is spaced from it by a fixing 4. By way of example only and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the component 2 may comprise one part of a letter-plate that is adapted to be fitted on one side of a door and connected to another part 3 of the letter-plate that is adapted to be fitted on an opposite side of the door by the fixing 4, which in this case is a screw. The screw 4 has to be pushed through a hole 5 in a face 6 of the component 2 adjacent the hole 5 and aligned with a boss 7 provided on the component 3. The device 1 enables the body 8 of the screw 4 to be aligned with the boss 7 and will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 1.

The device 1 comprises a plurality of resilient fingers 9 that each form a cantilever spring. The fingers may therefore be comprised of metal or of an inherently resilient material such as a plastics or an elastomeric material. If comprised of metal, the fingers may be made of spring steel or of a sufficiently ductile material such as mild steel. The device 1 is particularly suited to being moulded from a thermoplastic material.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, it will be appreciated that the device 1 is integrally formed with the component 2, namely one part of the letter-plate. An embodiment of the device that is manufactured separately for subsequent attachment to a component after manufacture is described below with reference to Figs. 4 to 6.

The fingers 9 of the device 1 project from the component 2 around the periphery of the hole 5 on the side of the component 2 opposite the face 6. 10 The fingers 9 are preferably evenly spaced around the periphery of the hole 5. In addition, the tips 10 of the fingers 9 are arranged to lie on a circle having a diameter less than that of the hole 5 around a longitudinal axis that is coincident with the centre of the hole 5 and at right angles to the face 6 of the component 2 adjacent the hole 4. This is to enable the device 1 to cater for a range of fixings with different diameters. Preferably, there are at least three fingers 9. However, it is possible for there to be only two and an embodiment of such a device is described below with reference to Figs. 4 to 6.

In use, when a fixing such as the screw 4 is inserted through the hole 5 in the component 2 the fingers 9 exert a spring force around the body 8 of the screw 4 as shown in Fig. 2 (in the drawing the thread has been omitted from the body 8 of the screw 4 for clarity). As the tips 10 of the fingers 9 are arranged to lie inwardly of the hole 5 they are bent outwards as the body 8 of the screw 4 is pushed through the gap between them. As the fingers 9 are identical in shape and size to one another, each finger 9 exerts nominally the same resistance on the body 8 of the screw 4. The net result is that the fingers 9 keep the body 8 of the screw 4 aligned with the common longitudinal axis shared by both the hole 5, the fingers 9 and the boss 7 or hole provided in the second component 3. Fixings with a thicker body simply flex the fingers 9 outwards to a greater degree but the body 8 of the fixing is still kept aligned with the longitudinal axis. If the body 8 of the fixing is threaded, such as in the case of the screw 4, turning it before it engages with the second component 3 may result in some engagement of its thread into the material of the fingers 9 but this does not affect its alignment. However, it will be appreciated that preferably the fixing is pushed through the hole 5 until it engages with the second component 3 before it is screwed into or otherwise secured in position.

Turning now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 6, here a device is shown that is manufactured separately from a component to which it is to be affixed. Such a separately manufactured device 11 may be made by 10 being moulded from a resilient plastics or elastomeric material or by additive printing. If the device 11 is made from metal it may be manufactured by injection moulding, stamping/bending, casting or additive printing. In the illustrated embodiment the device ii only comprises two fingers 12, as further described below, but such devices comprising three or more fingers 15 9, as described above, may also be manufactured separately in the same way.

The device n comprises a plate 13, for example in the form of a disc, from one side of which the fingers 12 project and also defines a hole 14 around which the fingers 12 are arranged. A face 15 of the plate 13 opposite from that from which the fingers 12 project is fiat so that it can be secured to a surface of a component adjacent a second hole defined by the component so that the hole 14 is aligned with the second hole to share a common longitudinal axis with it. Securement of the device 11 to the component is preferably effected by an adhesive or adhesive means such as double-sided adhesive tape. The fingers 12 are arranged around the hole 14 in the same way as the fingers 9 described above are arranged around the hole 4, that is so that the tips 16 of the fingers 12 lie on a circle having a diameter less than that of the hole 14 around the longitudinal axis of the hole 4. This axis is also at right angles to the face 15 of the plate 13. Hence, once the device 11 has been secured to the component it operates in the same way as the device 1 described above.

With regard to fact that the device 11 comprises only two fingers 12, in this case and in other embodiments wherein there are only two fingers these fingers 12 are arranged diametrically opposite from one another on opposite sides of the hole 14 or the hole 5 in the component 2. In addition, the 5 opposing surfaces 17 of the fingers 12 are given a concave profile such that the concave surfaces 17 are coincident with circles described by radii rotating around the common longitudinal axis 20 (see Fig. 5). This concavity enables the fingers 12 to retain the body of a fixing such as the body 18 of a screw 19, as shown in Fig. 6, in alignment with the common axis 20. When there are 10 more than two fingers, for example in the embodiment of device 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the opposing surfaces of the fingers need not have a concave profile. However, it is advantageous for them to be shaped in this way as it facilitates their manufacture by moulding. -7 -

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device forming part of a component for aligning a fixing for use in the connection of the component to a feature defined by a second component that is spaced from it in use, the component comprising a face defining a hole through which a projecting portion of the fixing can pass; and the device comprising a plurality of resilient fingers that projects from the component around the periphery of the hole, the tips of the fingers lying on a circle having a diameter less than that of o the hole around a longitudinal axis that is coincident with the centre of the hole and at right angles to the face of the component adjacent the hole.
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fingers project from the component on a side opposite to the face of the component.
3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the device and the component are integrally formed.
4. A device for aligning a fixing for use in the connection of a first component to a feature defined by a second component that is spaced from it in use, the device comprising a plate defining a first hole for securement to a face of the first component adjacent a second hole through which a projecting portion of the fixing can pass, a plurality of fingers each comprised of a resilient material that projects from the plate around the periphery of the first hole, the tips of the fingers lying on a circle having a diameter less than that of the second hole around a longitudinal axis that is coincident with the centre of the first hole and at right angles to a face of the plate.
5. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the fingers are identical in shape and size to one another.
6. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein there are at least three fingers.
7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the fingers are evenly spaced around the periphery of the hole in the component or around the first hole in the plate.
8. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein there are only two fingers that are arranged diametrically opposite from one another on o opposite sides of the hole in the component or the first hole in the plate.
9. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein opposing surfaces of the fingers are concave and coincident with circles described by radii rotating around said longitudinal axis.
10. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein each of the fingers comprises a cantilever spring.
11. A device as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said fingers are each comprised of spring steel or of mild steel.
12. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the fingers are comprised of a resilient material.
13. A device as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the fingers are comprised of a plastics or an elastomeric material.
14. A device as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the fingers are moulded from a thermoplastic material.
15. A device forming part of or for attachment to a component for aligning a fixing for use in the connection of the component to a feature defined by a second component that is spaced from it in use substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.